SI Biology Noctuid Moth

Moths belonging to the family Noctuidae have a unique evolutionary feature to protect them from one of their primary predators, the bat (Llano, 1996). Bats send out high frequency sound waves to find their prey via echolocation (Llano, 1996). However, the moths have sensors, “ears,” on their thorax, which are ultrasensitive to the frequency of sound waves that the bats send out (Llano, 1996). When they are exposed to the high frequency sonar sound waves, the moths fly away erratically and in circles, often avoiding their predators (Llano, 1996).